Beyond Climate Despair with Dr. Jennifer Atkinson [Climate Lecture Series]
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Hi all,
This is the scheduled talk with Dr. Jennifer Atkinson.
Title: Beyond Climate Despair: Reclaiming Hope in a Warming World
Abstract
As our climate crisis deepens, despair is on the rise. Terms like “eco-anxiety” and “climate grief” have spread throughout activist circles as well as popular culture; meanwhile, a raft of academic studies now identifies climate change as a mental health crisis. This talk will outline the existential toll of environmental destruction on different groups – from scientists and activists to students and BIPOC communities. We will also discuss strategies for channeling dark emotions into collective action, and developing the agency and courage to stay engaged in the work ahead.
Bio:
Dr. Jennifer Atkinson is an Associate Professor of environmental humanities at the University of Washington, Bothell. Her seminars on Eco-Grief & Climate Anxiety have been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, National Geographic, Seattle Times, NBC News and many other outlets. Dr. Atkinson is currently working on a book titled An Existential Toolkit for the Climate Crisis, which offers strategies to help young people navigate the emotional toll of climate breakdown. She leads public seminars on climate and mental health in partnership with youth activists, psychologists, climate scientists and policy makers. Her podcast “Facing It” also gives people tools to channel eco-anxiety into action.
